The Hierarchy

Chapter 13: The Bitch is Back

I throw open the doors to the school. Screw those "Extra five days off". I mean everyone else did, right? I'm wearing my skirt and blouse the way I used to. The skirt too high and the blouse to low. The heels I used to wear to school have been rummaged out from the closet. I went back home again to get those things. My bruise from Harry is covered with foundation just to assure no one asks about it. My hair falls completely straight over my shoulders and back. I stop in the doorway and people look at me.

Danny Muzoko looks at me and smirks. "Trying to naked enough, but not nude, Reece?"

I walk past him. "Watch your mouth, Danny. You wouldn't want people to know Bella left your house crying after she had sex with you."

"Don't have to be so harsh!" Someone says and I recognize the voice as Paul's.

"Yeah well, Paul, your dick doesn't have to be so short. Some things can't be fixed." I say with a shrug and pop a bubble with my gum.

"Damn, princess." Jaxon King let's out a low whistle. "Watch out for you."

"No, I think we should watch out for your foreclosure. Have fun living in poverty!" I call waving my hand.

"Watch out the bitch is back." someone says.

Damn right she is.

I open my locker and get my books and shut it loudly. The face that uncovers who's behind my locker isn't who I want to see.

"What's your deal?" He asks abruptly.

I smile. It's cold, and mean. "I have no clue what you are talking about."

"Don't play dumb Reece. You've been different since Saturday. You spent all your time in your room Sunday and then you show up to school just exposing people. What gives?" He asks.

"You deal with your people. And I deal with mine. That's how this works. Remember Liam?" I remind him of the days before I lost everything.

"But...I thought you changed?"

"People don't change, Liam. That's not how life works. One day, you'll realize there are people you'll never see again. At least not in the same way, that is. I'm not who I was three weeks ago or a month ago. I'm me again. And that isn't changing." I snap and walk away.

"Reece!" Mackenzie calls and I walk faster. "I need to talk to you."

I stop and turn around looking dead at her annoyingly perfect face. "What?"

"I'm sorry for what I did to you. I...I didn't mean to hurt you. I was hurt and wanted everyone to feel the same way. Can you forgive me? I want to be friends again. If that's okay."

"Mackenzie, you're a self-centered, lying, conniving bitch and I can't trust you. But I can't seem to trust anyone else either so I guess I'm stuck with you." I say with a shrug. "we're running this show the way we used to."

"Like a bitch?" she clarifies.

"Like a bitch."

***3 Months Later***

3 months later and I have everything I want. Anything I want I can get. I am still the cheer captain for the basketball team. I cut Valerie and Sydney and Maria out of my life. My mom hasn't called since the Disney Ball. I'm still staying at the McCormick's. I haven't talked to Liam since that day in the hallway. I party too much. I'm still single. People are afraid of me. I'm friends with Mackenzie again. She dumped Hudson for me so I guess I should be grateful for that. We walk down the hallways like all of those mean girls in movies. This was supposed to make me happy.